The registration window for the UMS International Scholarship stays open from 15 January 2026 until 30 September 2026. That sounds generous until you realise what has to fit inside it: a valid passport with at least 18 months left on it, an English test certificate that is less than two years old, translated transcripts, recommendation letters on official letterhead, and a study purpose essay you actually want a selection panel to read. Students who wait until August usually end up submitting whatever they can scrape together, and it shows.
This scholarship is offered by Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta in Indonesia and it is open to international applicants at Bachelor, Master, and Doctoral level. There are two funding schemes, Fully Funded and Partially Funded, and the difference between them is significant, so read the coverage section carefully before you decide what to apply for.
Work backwards from the official timeline
The admission schedule for academic year 2027/2028 is unusually long, stretching over more than a year from first registration to your first class. Knowing the checkpoints helps you plan finances, visa steps, and even resignation from a job if you are currently employed.
- Online registration opens 15 January 2026 and closes 30 September 2026
- Administrative screening by the selection team takes place across October and November 2026
- Announcement of administrative results falls in the same October to November 2026 period
- Interview selection and the announcement of interview results also sit inside that window
- A psychology test is part of the same October to November 2026 stage
- Final announcement is made in November 2026
- Acceptance confirmation Batch I is in November 2026
- Acceptance confirmation Batch II is in December 2026
- Visa application processing runs from January to February 2027
- Arrival in Indonesia is expected in March 2027
- The BIPA (Bahasa Indonesia) programme runs from 5 April 2027 to 31 August 2027
- Your actual study programme begins in September 2027
One practical note the university itself makes: your application status is updated inside the student admission portal as you move through each stage, and the timing of those updates varies from applicant to applicant. Do not panic if a friend gets an update before you do. Check the portal regularly rather than refreshing your email inbox. The schedule may also be adjusted in line with official regulations and scholarship policy, so treat the dates as a strong guide and confirm anything critical on the portal.
The application process in plain terms
Everything happens online through the International Student Portal at isp.ums.ac.id. There is no paper submission, no courier, and no office you need to visit in person.
- Visit isp.ums.ac.id and create your account.
- Choose your study programme from the programme list before you start filling forms, because some requirements (such as a research proposal) depend on the level you pick.
- Upload every required document in the correct format and within the file size limits.
- Complete and submit the online application form.
- Sit through the selection process, which includes administrative screening, an interview, and a psychology test.
- Watch for results on the portal. Outcomes are also communicated by email from the UMS Admission Team.
The university states clearly that soliciting is strictly prohibited. In practice that means nobody is authorised to charge you a fee to submit this application on your behalf. If an agent contacts you promising a guaranteed seat or asking for money to “process” your file, that is not how this scholarship works. More on that further down.
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Documents you need to prepare
Start collecting these early. Several of them depend on other people, and other people are slow.
- Passport sized photo in JPG or JPEG format, in colour and recent, minimum 200KB and maximum 300KB
- Scan of your passport cover in PDF format, every corner visible, maximum 300KB
- Scan of your passport detail page in PDF format, with the passport valid for at least 18 months from the date of application
- Recommendation letter in PDF format from an educational or professional institution, on official letterhead, signed, and written in English
- Academic certificate in PDF format, issued in English
- Academic transcript in PDF format, issued in English
- English language certificate in PDF format such as TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo
- Study purpose essay written in English, explaining your motivation and goals
- Academic recommendation letter from your previous academic supervisor, in PDF format
- Research proposal in PDF format and in English, required for Doctoral applicants only
- Certificates related to your chosen field of study, if you have them
- Certificates of achievement or experience covering academic and non academic activities, if available
- Publication links for Master and Doctoral applicants, if you have any published work
- Financial guarantee in PDF format for applicants who are not applying for a scholarship, issued by a responsible sponsor or institution
- Financial guarantee for the non scholarship route showing a minimum balance of USD 2,000 over the last three months
One small detail that trips people up: the university accepts documents in English or Bahasa Indonesia for several of the academic items. If your transcripts are in another language, you need an official translation, and that takes time and money. Book it now, not in September.
Do you actually qualify? Check your level
Each degree level has its own age ceiling and its own English score floor. Read only the block that applies to you.
Bachelor applicants
- Maximum age is 25 years
- You must hold a high school diploma or equivalent, with a scanned diploma and transcript in English or Bahasa Indonesia
- If you already hold a Bachelor degree, you are not eligible for the Bachelor scholarship
- English proficiency of TOEFL ITP 477, TOEFL iBT 53, IELTS 5.5, or TOEIC 510
- The English certificate must have been obtained within the last two years
- A recommendation letter from an employer or immediate supervisor is required if you are currently working
- An academic recommendation letter from your previous school is required
- Passport valid for at least 18 months
- Complete the online form at isp.ums.ac.id
Master applicants
- Maximum age is 30 years
- You must hold a Bachelor degree, with scanned certificate and transcript in English or Bahasa Indonesia
- If you already hold a Master degree, you are not eligible for the Master scholarship
- English proficiency of TOEFL ITP 500, TOEFL iBT 61, IELTS 6.0, or TOEIC 575
- The English certificate must have been obtained within the last two years
- Recommendation letter from an employer or immediate supervisor if currently employed
- Academic recommendation letter from your previous institution
- Passport valid for at least 18 months
- Willingness to pay a visa deposit of IDR 7,000,000
- Complete the online form at isp.ums.ac.id
Doctoral applicants
- Maximum age is 35 years
- You must hold a Master degree, with scanned certificate and transcript in English or Bahasa Indonesia
- If you already hold a Doctorate, you are not eligible for the Doctoral scholarship
- A recommendation letter from a potential research supervisor at UMS is required, particularly for research based or thesis oriented programmes
- A statement of purpose covering the purpose of your studies, where your interest in studying in Indonesia and in your research topic came from, and your academic plan in the form of a dissertation proposal
- English proficiency of TOEFL ITP 530, TOEFL iBT 71, IELTS 6.0, or TOEIC 640
- The English certificate must have been obtained within the last two years
- Recommendation letter from an employer or immediate supervisor if currently employed
- Academic recommendation letter from your previous institution
- Passport valid for at least 18 months
- Willingness to pay a visa deposit of IDR 7,000,000
- Complete the online form at isp.ums.ac.id
There is one useful exemption worth flagging. Applicants from English speaking countries, or from universities where the programme was taught in English as stated on the diploma or transcript, do not have to submit an English proficiency certificate. They do need to attach an official letter from their home university confirming this. If that applies to you, request that letter now, because registrars are notoriously slow in summer.
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About that visa deposit
Master and Doctoral applicants are asked to be willing to pay a visa deposit of IDR 7,000,000. For Fully Funded recipients this amount is refunded in full on arrival. Self funded and Partially Funded recipients contribute this amount to keep the visa process moving smoothly. Budget for it either way, because you pay first and get it back later if you are in the fully funded group.
What the two funding schemes actually cover
This is the part most applicants skim, then regret skimming. Fully Funded and Partially Funded are not two versions of the same thing.
Fully Funded covers:
- Tuition fees
- Living allowance of IDR 1,750,000 per month
- Books allowance of IDR 50,000 per month
- Health insurance
- Visa fees
- Limited stay permit
- Return air flight ticket
- One free year of Bahasa Indonesia class for students who choose the Regular Class
Partially Funded covers:
- Tuition fees
- One free year of Bahasa Indonesia class for students who choose the Regular Class
That is the entire list for the partial scheme. No living allowance, no health insurance, no visa fees, no stay permit, no flights. If you are offered the Partially Funded scheme, sit down and calculate your monthly cost of living in Surakarta plus flights and insurance before you accept. Indonesia is affordable compared with many study destinations, but affordable is not free.
Programme length and what you are committing to
- Bachelor: 8 semesters
- Master: 4 semesters
- Doctoral: 6 semesters
Add the BIPA language programme on top of that if you are entering the Regular Class, which runs from April to August before your degree begins in September. Available study programmes are listed at isp.ums.ac.id/study-program, and it is worth browsing that list before you commit to an application, because the strength of your fit with a specific programme is what interviewers probe.
How to give yourself a real advantage
The documents get you past administrative screening. The interview and the essay decide the rest.
- Write the study purpose essay about a specific programme, not about Indonesia in general. Panels read hundreds of essays praising Indonesian culture. Very few explain why this particular department, and what the applicant intends to do with the degree afterwards.
- Doctoral applicants, contact a potential supervisor early. You need a recommendation letter from a UMS supervisor for research based programmes. That relationship cannot be built in a week. Read their published work, email them with a focused question about your proposed topic, and be patient.
- Take the English test now, not later. The certificate must be less than two years old at the point of application, and retaking a test after a disappointing score needs a gap of several weeks.
- Respect the file size limits. Photos between 200KB and 300KB, passport scans under 300KB. Applications get rejected at the administrative stage for reasons this trivial.
- Scan the full passport cover. Every corner has to be visible. A cropped scan is a failed scan.
- Line up your referees in advance. A signed letter on official letterhead in English is a real request to make of a busy professor or manager. Give them a month and a copy of your CV.
- Keep checking the portal after you submit. Status updates arrive at different times for different applicants, and missing an interview invitation ends your application.
A caution about agents and fees
UMS states that soliciting is strictly prohibited, and the entire process runs through the official portal at isp.ums.ac.id. Anyone who approaches you offering guaranteed admission, a “reserved” scholarship seat, or a paid shortcut into the selection process is not operating with the university’s blessing. Legitimate communication about your outcome comes from the UMS Admission Team by email and through the portal itself.
Before paying anyone for anything related to this scholarship, verify it against the official portal and the guidebook available under the Guideline menu there. That guidebook, along with the video tutorials on the same site, is the single most reliable reference for the process.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is the UMS International Priority Scholarship fully funded?
It can be. The scholarship runs under two schemes. The Fully Funded scheme covers tuition, a living allowance of IDR 1,750,000 monthly, a books allowance of IDR 50,000 monthly, health insurance, visa fees, the limited stay permit, and a return flight ticket. The Partially Funded scheme covers tuition fees and the free Bahasa Indonesia class only.
When is the deadline to apply?
Online registration for academic year 2027/2028 runs from 15 January 2026 to 30 September 2026. The university notes that the schedule may be adjusted in line with official regulations, so confirm on the portal before relying on any date.
Do I need to speak Bahasa Indonesia to apply?
No. Applications and most required documents are in English, and English proficiency is what is tested at the application stage. Students entering the Regular Class receive one free year of Bahasa Indonesia study through the BIPA programme, which runs from April to August before the degree starts.
What if my university taught in English but I have no IELTS or TOEFL?
You may be exempt. Applicants from English speaking countries, and applicants whose previous programme was conducted in English as stated on the diploma or transcript, are not required to submit an English proficiency certificate, provided they attach an official confirmation letter from their home university.
Can I apply if I already hold a degree at the same level?
No. Someone holding a Bachelor degree cannot apply for the Bachelor scholarship, someone holding a Master degree cannot apply for the Master scholarship, and someone holding a Doctorate cannot apply for the Doctoral scholarship. The scheme funds progression to a higher level only.
What is the age limit?
25 years for Bachelor applicants, 30 years for Master applicants, and 35 years for Doctoral applicants.
Will I get the IDR 7,000,000 visa deposit back?
Fully Funded recipients receive the deposit back in full on arrival in Indonesia. Self funded and Partially Funded recipients contribute this amount towards a smoother visa process.
Is there an application fee?
The published requirements do not list an application fee, and all submissions go through the official portal. Applicants who are not applying for a scholarship must show a financial guarantee with a minimum balance of USD 2,000 held over the last three months. Be sceptical of anyone asking you to pay a private fee to apply.
How competitive is the selection?
The process includes administrative screening, an interview, and a psychology test, which is a heavier assessment than many university scholarships require. Treat the interview stage seriously and prepare to talk in detail about your chosen programme and your plans after graduation.
The UMS International Priority Scholarship is a strong option for students who want a funded degree in Southeast Asia without the crushing competition of the largest global scholarship schemes. The Fully Funded package genuinely covers the cost of studying and living in Surakarta, and the long admission timeline gives organised applicants plenty of room to build a strong file.
Your next step is small and takes ten minutes. Open isp.ums.ac.id, create your account, and browse the study programme list until you find the exact programme you want to name in your essay. Then check the expiry date on your passport. If it has less than 18 months of validity remaining, renewing it is the very first thing you should do, because nothing else in this application matters without it.
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